Tag Archives: poetry

After four weeks and five weekends, Droitwich ArtsFest has ended after a fantastic month filled with a wide variety of artistic events.

Sing and Tonic choire

The festival got off to a very hot start on 30th June with events taking place in the open air in brilliant sunshine. Following announcements by Droitwich Town Crier, Edgar Harwood, Droitwich Deputy Mayor, Councillor Bill Moy, and Nigel Huddleston MP, shoppers in St Andrews Square enjoyed an afternoon of dance including Belly Dancing, Salsa, and Zumba. That day was also the first day of a free art exhibition by members of Droitwich Arts Network (DAN) in the Gallery Room of Droitwich Library, together with the annual exhibition of International MailArt.

Last Saturday (14th) Droitwich arts festival not only provided opportunities for families and youngsters including the creation of a dragon, face painting, and art activities with salt, but also two sketching walks for adults. And all to the accompaniment of music and dance provided by pupils of Droitwich Spa High School. During the week three authors performed “30-40-60”a multi-media event comprising readings about Womanhood containing moments of both humour and sadness.

Artist in View

This Saturday (21st) sees the traditional “Arts in View” event in Victoria Square where members of Droitwich Arts Network will demonstrate their work and skills in a variety of art forms. There will also be prose and poetry readings through the day in St Andrews Square. Budding photographers can join a photo walk led by Droitwich Camera Club starting from Droitwich Library at 2.30pm. Any camera will do including tablets and phone cameras. Some additional surprises will be created by a close up magician who will move through the crowds late morning.

“There is a disquiet that moves through these poems. Walker explores what it means to create a sense of home, and how the people within it build our longings around us. Beautiful work by a rising star in poetry. These are words that linger after the last page.” Angela Readman

“Claire Walker’s quiet, almost still, narrative through these poems could reflect their rural setting or the sadness within the protagonist, yet that quietness is deceptive. There are passions here amid the juxtaposition of man and stag. These poems will have you checking your fingernails for soil, seeing antlers in your peripheral vision.” Brett Evans

Hanbury Hall exhibitionwas closed on Monday 30th October with a small celebration, that includes trophy exchanging, poetry reading and food. The general feeling is, and the numbers proved it, that this year’s exhibition is the best so far. The quality of artworks, number of visitors (3358!) and their positive feedback, as well as enthusiasm of all stewards during the three weeks of the exhibition, was the best ever. The spirit of Droitwich Arts Network was clearly visible at all points and the success was a natural result.